Miami Heat Dwayne Wade dunks the ball against the Detroit Pistons during the third quarter of game two of the Eastern Conference finals at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Wednesday May 25, 2005. The Heat defeated the Pistons 92-86. Wade contributed 40 points. (AP)

MIAMI Dwyane Wade answered the dead-of-night phone call from Shaquille O'Neal. And hours later, with the Miami Heat facing their most critical stretch of the season, Wade answered yet again. Wade had 20 of his game-high 40 points in the fourth quarter, carrying the Heat to a 92-86 win over the Detroit Pistons in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday night.

He was 15-for-28 from the floor, 10-for-10 from the foul line, and added eight rebounds and six assists. And clearly, he didn't need much sleep. O'Neal called Wade at 3:45 a.m., wanting to ensure that the second-year guard was confident and ready for Miami's biggest game of the season.

Wade, who shouldered much of the blame of the Heat's loss in Game 1, responded in brilliant fashion.

"He took a lot of heat for having a bad first game and I told him, 'Take your time, let the game come to you, and I'm here with you no matter what,'" O'Neal said. "Just play your game. I felt the other day he was rushing and playing into their hands, playing a little bit too fast."

With the best-of-seven series now tied at a game apiece, Game 3 is Sunday night in Detroit, where the teams split two regular-season meetings.

Miami wasted a 14-point first-half lead and trailed by one entering the fourth period, but Wade quickly set the tone for the final 12 minutes.

He opened the quarter with a spinning bank shot, then drove from the left wing on Miami's next possession and threw down a one-handed slam for a 66-63 lead. Wade was 9-for-14 in the fourth quarter alone, and made sure Miami didn't have the late-game drought that cost the Heat in Game 1.

"I know I'm human and I'll have some bad games, but it's all how you come back the next game," Wade said. "I helped my team get a win tonight, and that's all I can ask for."

(Agencies)